Full Name:Glyn HodgesDate of Birth:30 April 1963Place of Birth:Streatham, London

Glyn Hodges(1980/81 - 1986/87)

One of the most talented players ever to wear the yellow and blue. A schoolboy apprentice, Glyn had a habit of getting firsts for the Dons. He was the first Wimbledon player to win an Under-21 cap (for Wales), the first to be capped at full international level, the first to score an international goal, and the first to score in all four divisions. He left the Dons in 1987 to follow Dave Bassett to Watford.

Glyn Peter Hodges (born 30 April 1963), is a Welsh football manager and former professional footballer. He is currently assistant manager at AFC Wimbledon.

During his playing career he played for Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Watford, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Derby County, Hull City, Nottingham Forest and Scarborough. He also played 18 times for the Wales national side, scoring twice.

Football career

Hodges started his playing career with Wimbledon and made more than 200 appearances for the Crazy Gang during seven years at the club. He had a brief spell with Newcastle United before returning south to join Watford in 1987 to re-team with ex-Wimbledon manager Dave Bassett. In the summer of 1981 Hodges played in Finland for Koparit.

He made over 100 appearances at Vicarage Road, enjoying four years at the club, and being voted Player of the Season in 1989, before joining Crystal Palace in the summer of 1990. His spell with the Eagles was short lived and the winger moved on loan to Sheffield United and thereby again linked up with former boss Dave Bassett. Hodges form was impressive and he scored a number of key goals, before the move was made permanent for £410,000 via the help of a Sheffield United Grand National Sweepstake ticket, paid for by the Sheffield United fans.

Hodges' five years at Bramall Lane were successful and he became a fans favourite during his stay. Hodges notably scored the winner against Manchester United in a 5th round cup tie win at Bramall Lane.

Hodges made over 150 appearances for The Blades, before joining Derby County for a brief spell in 1996. After a year in Hong Kong with Sing Tao (football), Hodges returned to England for a brief spell at Hull City. However, a big club clause in his contract allowed a move to Nottingham Forest to link once again with Bassett as a potential coach. However, an injury crisis at the start of the 1998–99 season meant Hodges was drafted in as a player. Brief spells at Total Network Solutions and Scarborough followed before Hodges retired in 2000.

Coaching career

The former Dons man arrived at Barnsley in August 2000 to link up with his old friend Bassett again. His work with the reserves had seen the side regularly challenge for honours both in the league and cup.

He was appointed caretaker manager for the first time back in October 2001 following the dismissal of Nigel Spackman and was in charge for just four games before Steve Parkin left Rochdale to take over The Tykes.

Parkin's tenure lasted just nine months as he was dismissed, with the club going into administration following their relegation to Division Two. Hodges again became caretaker manager and remained in charge for the remainder of the season up until the summer of 2003. Then, with the club in desperate trouble financially, Hodges was replaced by Gudjon Thordarson, who was part of the consortium that took control of the club in June 2003.

In early 2004, Glyn Hodges joined Mark Hughes in the Wales International set-up, becoming Wales Under 21 manager. Despite making "positive strides", Glyn was removed from his role by John Toshack's shake up of the Football Association Wales staff in December 2004

Glyn then rejoined his former boss, Mark Hughes, as Blackburn Reserve team manager. In July 2008 Glyn announced he was to leave Blackburn Rovers whereupon, after a month of delays, he followed Hughes to Manchester City, being appointed again in the role of Reserve Team Manager. However, he became unemployed on 19 December 2009 when Mark Hughes and his complete backroom staff were relieved of their duties at the club.

Glyn subsequently spent a brief spell at Leeds United as a coach before re-joining Mark Hughes as First team coach at Fulham in October 2010. He then worked at Queens Park Rangers and on 2 July 2013 he joined Stoke City as under-21 coach. He left Stoke in January 2018.

On 4 December 2018, Glyn Hodges was announced to join Wally Downes as AFC Wimbledon's assistant manager.

Career statistics

Sourced from Glyn Hodges at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

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